Bedding clamp



Jne 13, 1933. J. J. VAN VECHTEN BEDDING CLAMP Filed Oct. 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l :J1/wanton JAY J. VAN V55/TEN ttor/14411 June 13, 1933 J. J. VAN VECHTEN BEDDING CLAMP Filed Oct. .5. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JAV'J/A/v V55/#TEN ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1933 STATES [PATENT- 'o1-"rior:k

JAY J. VAN vncirrnn, or Douems, ARIZONA, AssIGNoR or ONE-HALF To OLAF N.

novn, on-HANovER, NEW MEXICOv f Appiicatioiif'med-october 3, i931; serial No. 566,596;

This inventionrelates to bedding clamps.

One object of the present invention is'the provision of a bedding clamp of'simple,

economical design which may be mounted in an Vinconspicuous position beside the mattress, and which will releasably but securely retain the bedding rin a neat orderly arrangement upon the mattress. Y

l Another object is the provision ofa bedding clamp which may be readily operated to secure and release the bedding and which will open up wideto readily admit thebedding thereto. Y c Y Other objects and advantages"willfappear from thefollowing description of-two illustrative embodiments ofthe present invention. Y

In the accompanying drawings:l

Fig. l is a sectional view onthe line 1-1 of Fig. 2 illustrating a bedding clamp constructed in accordance with the present invention.

F ig.' 2 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation taken alongithe 425 line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar vto Fig. 1 illustrating a modified form yof beddingv clamp involving the present invention. K

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the .line 4-4 o f Fig. -of another form of bedding clamp embodying the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similarto F ig. 2, of the bedding clamp sh'ownin Fig. 4 y

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the clamp mounting means of Fig. 4, illustrating how the same may be applied to a boX spring. f

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a further modified form of bedding clamp embodying said invention.

The bedding clamp Villustrated in Figs. 1

and 2 is shownapplied tothe foot of a bed,

although it is equally applicable to the sides of the bed. Init-his instance the angle ybar shownat 1Q constitutes the end rail of a conventional bed Vspring which is 'indicated as supporting the mattress 11. y

The clamp includes a longitudinally eX- tended clamp bar 12, preferably of V-form,

which extends horizontally across the bed spring adjacent the base of the mattress.V The zbar 12 is yieldably supported by a plun rality of vertical pins, one of which is shown at' 13,-and each of which extends upwardly 55 through-the horizontal flange of the rail 10 and downwardly y throughl a supporting guidelug 14struck from the vertical flange of the railv`10. Each pin 13 is'supported by a coil spring 15 interposed between the 60 l.

lug 14 and a shoulder 16 on the pin. The bar 12y coacts with a movable clamp bar 17 adapted to intermesh therewith and to grip the bedding 18 therebetween;

'The clampbar 17 is preferably substan- 65 tiallyL coextensive with the bar 12 and is mounted in a novel'manner -whereby the same may be swung from interlocking engagement with and` above the -bar 12 into a position spaced laterally therefrom, so ras1to70 clear the bar 12 and thus'perinit ready ap-` plication of the beddingk thereto./ In this instance the'clamp bar 17'is of rounded form andcomprise's a coil of sheet metal consti- 'tuting an integral part of a sheet metal sup- 75 I porting Astructure which is bent to provide a'substantially horizontal portion 19 and an upright portion `2O, disposed outside of and beyond the rail 10. y

The sheet metal structure is supported by so a plurality of U-shaped brackets, one of which is shown at 21, each fixed to the bottom thereof and projectable inwardly therefrom through an appropriate opening 22 in thejvertical flange of the rail 10. It will be noted that the brackets 21, together with the parts 20 and 19, constitute in edect a 'C-shaped supporting frame for the clamp bar 17.

-Each bracket 21 is rockably supported at 90 its inner end by a hinge pinv23 rotatably engaged within the lower end of a link 24, preferably of sheetinetal. p Each link 24 is rockably supported atits upper end upon a' -pin 25, arranged directly below the clamp '95 bar 12and iiXed in a pair of ears 26 struck downwardly from the horizontal flange of the rail 10. A shoulder 27 on each bracket 21 limits the inward movement thereof through the opening 22, andrit will be noted .100

that in this limiting position (shownin fullr lines, in Fig. 1) the pin 23 and the lower end of the link 24 are disposed inwardly beyond a vertical dead center position directly below the ysupporting pin 25. A metal plate 28 applied to the portion 2O of the sheet metal structure, and having its upper and lower edges 29 curled, as indicated, n'ovides a convenient hand hold for facilitating manipulation of the movable clamp bar 17, and its supporting structure, into. and out of clamping position,

With the parts in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 the bedding 18 is securely gripped between the bars 12 and 17, the bar 17 "and its supporting structure being rew tained in this position by the downward and inward thrust of the links 24, upon the brackets 21. To release this gripping pressure the lower portion of the plate 28 and attached structure is pulled outwardly to thereby swing the links 24 outwardly through and beyond their vertical dead center positions, whereupon the bedding 18 is released and may be removed.

l/Vith the gripping pressure thus released the bar 17 and its supporting structure may be lifted and shifted clear of the bar 12 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which position bedding may be readily reapplied' over the bar 12. To again secure the bedding the bar 17 is reapplied to the bar 12 and the structure again returned to the original clamping position by forcing the bottom thereof inwardly until the stop shoulders 27 on the brackets 21 again engage the vertical flange of the rail 10.

It will thus be noted that a bedding clamp has been provided which may be adjusted tot securely clamp or release thebedding by ak simple swinging action, and which, when released, may be opened up wide to readily receive the bedding.

1t will also be noted that lalthough the clamp hereinabove is designed primarily for use as a bedding clamp, it may be advaiitageoiisly employed for othei' purposes such as for holding draperies or other materials on display.

The clamp shown in Fig. 3 is similar in many respcts to that hereinabove described in that it includesa movable clamp bar 17', carried by a similar structure 20, mounted in a similar manner on links 24', liingedly connected to the inwardly directed supporting brackets 21. In this instance however the rail 10 is fashioned to provide an appropriate clamping surface for coaction with the clamp bar 17. For this purpose the rail 10 'is preferably provided with a ridge or lip which serves to prevent outward displacement of the clamp bar 17 when in clamping position.

The bedding clamp shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be readily applied to the end rail 10 of a conventional bed-spring without requiring any modification thereof. It is provided with a support 31 preferably of sheet metal bent into angle form to provide an upper horizontal wing 32 and a vertical depending wing 33 for application tothe top and side fianges, respectively, of the rail 10". Metal strips 34, riveted or otherwise secured preferably to the horizontal wing 32 provide simple yet effective anchorage for the support, the ends 35 of the strips being bent over the edges of the rail as indicated, particularly in Fig. 4.

in this instancerthe stationary clamp rail 12 is carried by the projecting edge of a plate 36 riveted or otherwise fixed to the horizontal wing 32; and the movable clamp rail 17 is in the form of an angle bar disposed below tlie stationary rail and carried by the upper inclined portion 19 of an upright carrier plate 20.

The plate 20 is supported'by a plurality of links 24, preferably of spring steel and bent into G-form, as indicated in Fig. 4. The lower end of each link is rockably supported upon a pivot pin 25 fixed in a bracket 26 secured to the vertical wing 33 of the support, and the upper end of each is similarly connected to a pivot pin 23" fixed in a bracket 21 carried by the plate 20". The pivot pin 25 is preferably Vdisposed directly beneath the clamp rail 12, and in moving the clamp rail 17 into clamping),` position the pivot pin 23 passes through the line of pressure between the rail 12 and the pin 25 and thus passes through an intermediate dead center position. By shaping the links as indicated, the rear face of each link coacts with the base 37 of each bracket 21 and thereby serves as a stop to limit the inward movement of the plate 20 and thus to determine the final clamping position thereof; and by reason of the shape and resilient character of the links the movable clamp rail 17 readily accommodates itself to various thicknesses of beddin g between it and the Xed rail.

To release the clamp, the bottom of the plate 20 is pulled outwardly until the pivot pin 23 has passed through the dead center position, to thereby release the clamping pressure, after which the clamp rail 17" may be swung clear of the rail 12l to permit free removal or application of bedding therefrom or thereto. The clamp is again closed by a reverse process.

The clamp shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may also be readily applied to a so-called box spring, inthe manner indicated in Fig. 6, by bending one end of the clip 34 about the heavy edge wire 38, with which such springs are ordinarily'provided, and by bending the other end 0f the clip about an intermediate wire 39.

. In beds so constructed thatV insufficient space is afforded between the end of the bedspring and the foot-board to permit mounting or opening and closingy of the clamp, the parts may be combined and arranged in the manner indicated in Fig. 7 with the clamp rails 12 and 17 disposedkunder the end of the bed-spring. In .the clamp v therein shown, the sheet metal support 31'. is bent into channel form to provide an ad- 10 ditional wing 40 which projects horizontally beneath the end rail 10 of the bed-spring; the anchor clips or strips 34 and the carrier plate 36 for the stationary clamp rail. 12 being riveted to the verticaly portion 15 33 of the support; the brackets 26 being secured to the wing 40; and the carrier plate for the movable clamp rail 17 being supported in horizontal position below the wing 40 through the brackets 21 and links 20 24 in a manner similar to the corresponding parts in the clamp last above described. Various changes may be made in either embodiment ofV the invention hereinabove kspecifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim v n 1. In a clamping device the combination Y of a stationary rail, a clampingbar resiliently supported thereon, a second clamping bar for coaction withy and over said first named bar, an upright plate disposed beside said rail for supporting said second bar, a bracket on said plate projectable beneath said rail, a link rockably suspended from said rail and rockably connected with said bracket to permit said bracket and structure to swing therewith through a dead center position to thereby establish and maintain 4o a gripping pressure between said bars, and a shoulder on said bracket coacting with said rail for limiting such swinging action.

2. In a clamp for the purpose described l vthe combination of a support, a stationary clamp rail thereon, link mechanism on said support, and amova'ble clamp rail carried by said link mechanism and disposed between said link mechanism and said stationary rail, said link mechanism being movable through a dead center position to effect a gripping pressure between' said rails.

In witness whereof,y I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of September, 1931.

JAY J. VAN VECHTEN. 

